Unforgettable Love (Passionate Love Series of the Iñigos)

Ownership

Brandon’s POV

“She’s mine… all mine.  No one and I mean no one will take her away from me now” isip isip ni Brandon habang nakadikit ang mukha sa leeg ni Cassandra.  Nakayakap siya ng mahigpit kay Cassandra habang inaantay na kumalma ang kanyang sarili.  Mabilis pa din ang paghinga niya at malakas pa din ang panginginig ng kanyang katawan ngunit may ibayong saya sa kanyang dibdib na pakiramdam niya ay sasabog dahil wala na itong pagsidlan dito. 

“She loves me… she really loves me!” ubod ng kasiyahan niyang ninanamnam ang kaalamang iyon.  Inangat niya ang kanyang ulo at tinignan ang kasintahan.  Kay sarap isipin na maaari na niyang tawaging kasintahan ang babaeng kay tagal na niyang minamahal at inaasam. 

“Cassie…?” nakikita niyang nakapikit pa ang kasintahan at mabilis pa din ang paghinga.  Taas baba pa ang malusog na dibdib nito patunay na hindi pa ito kumakalma.

“Are you okay Baby?” idinikit ko ang aking noo sa kanya habang siya ay nakapikit pa.  Mariing nakapikit ang kanyang mga mata, at pinagmasdan ko ang namamaga at namumula na niyang mga labi.  May naramdaman akong pagmamalaki sa kaisipang ako ang dahilan ng pamamaga ng kanyang mga labi.  Napangiti ako at muli siyang hinalikan at marahang sinipsip muli ang kanyang pang-ibabang labi.

Nang i-angat ko ang aking labi at tignan siyang muli, nakamulat na ang kanyang mga mata.  Namumungay pa din ang mga ito ng mga sandaling iyon.

“I’m okay Brandon” sagot niya sa aking katanungan.  Tumingin siya ng mabilis sa aking mga mata ngunit dali dali din niyang iniwas ang kaniyang tingin. 

Hinawakan ko siya sa kaniyang baba at ibinalik ang kanyang mukha upang pumantay sa akin. 

“Look at me Cassie… are you feeling shy?”

Tumango siya ng marahan na namumula ang mga pisngi at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi. 

Napangiti ako.  She looks so adorable when she is feeling shy, with blushing cheeks and such tantalizing eyes.  Muli akong napatingin sa kanyang labi na kinakagat niya at nakaramdam na naman ako ng init sa aking katawan. 

“Don’t bite your lip Cassie..”

“Huh…?”

“Stop biting your lip if you don’t want us to do something that will make you blush even more.”

“Oh…” lalong pumula ang kanyang mukha at binitawan nga niya ang pagkagat niya sa kanyang labi.

Muli ko siyang hinagkan sa labi ng mariin at mabilis at tinignan ang ayos namin.  I fixed her blouse and her pants first.  I noticed that there were wet marks on her pants between her legs and that made me smile with pride again.  I wanted to be her first in everything.  And I will make sure of it.  I will make her happy because she is my girl.  I want her to be my first in everything too.  I just cannot imagine being this intimate with anyone else.

“You don’t have to feel embarrassed you know.  You are right.  Being intimate is natural between lovers.  And we are lovers aren’t we Cassie?”

She shyly looked into my eyes and nodded.  She had the sweetest smile on her lips and she looked so unbelievably innocent and beautiful at that moment.  I was mesmerized.

I think I must have stared at her for quite a while.  Tumikhim siya upang maputol iyon.  I shook my head left and right to wake up from my dreamy state.

“Did you bring extra clothes?  Your pants are wet” tanong ko sa kaniya na may ngisi sa aking labi. 

“Meron.  Nasa kotse ni Dad.”

“I’ll get it.  Don’t go out.  Lock the door and stay inside.  Don’t open it to anyone other than myself, okay?” at tumango naman para ipakitang narinig at naintindinhan niya ang aking sinabi.

Tinignan ko ang aking sarili.  Basang basa ang harapan ng aking pantalon.  May parte sa polo shirt ko sa may tiyan na basang basa din.  Nagpunas ako ng tissue ngunit wala na akong magagawa pa kundi magpalit na lang.  Sana lang ay walang sumalubong at pahintuin ako pagpasok ko sa loob.  Malapit lang naman ang kwarto ko sa terrace. 

I looked at Cassie at nakitang naka-awang ang kanyang mga labi habang nakatingin din sa aking polo shirt at pantalon.  Nagka-tinginan kami at natawa pareho.  Niyakap ko siyang muli at hinalikan sa ulo.  “Thank you Baby.  That felt so good.  I love you.”

Yumakap naman pabalik sa akin si Cassie at sabay sambit “I love you too.”

Bago ko siya binitawan ay hinalikan ko pa siya sa kanyang noo, ilong at labi ulit.  I can't seem to get enough of her.

Kumuha ako ng mga tissue bago lumabas ng restroom.   Wait for me” aniya ko sa kanya.

Dali dali akong pumasok sa loob at niyuko ko ang aking mukha upang walang lumapit sa akin.  Narinig ko ang isa kong tiyahin na tinawag ako ngunit dire-diretso ako sa aking kuwarto.  I will talk to her later.  First things first.  I needed to wash up and change my clothes.  Then get the key from Tito Raymond so I can get Cassie’s clothes.  They always bring extra clothes because there were times that they stay overnight because my Dad would insist on drinking with family and friends on these occasions. 

I took a five-minute quick shower and looked for Tito Raymond.  He gave the car key to me without much ado since he is used to me taking care of Cassie ever since she was a toddler.  It took a little more time than I expected because there were so many visitors that I had to go through going to and back from the car.  They all wanted to say hello and say the usual Christmas greetings, hence, I could not be rude.  I was away from Cassie for perhaps twenty to twenty-five minutes.  When I went back to the terrace, I saw Cassie at the settee we used earlier while making out.  She was talking to Nate.  She had a settee pillow on her legs.  That scene did not go well with me.  I felt murderous.

Cassie looked up and saw me.  She smiled but her smile wavered when she saw my cold and angry expression.    

Nate looked behind him and saw me. 

“Hey Brandon… I was just asking Cassie about…?

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos sa sasabihin niya.  “Get inside Cassie” tiim bagang kong sabi. 

Nakita kong nanlaki ang mga mata ni Cassie at napalabi.  Her cuteness won’t work with me this time.  I told her to stay inside the restroom.  She not only disobeyed me but I see her now talking to a boy who is obviously smitten with her.

“Hindi pa kami tapos mag-usap ni Nate, Kuya Brandon.”

Biglang nanlamig at biglang napalitan ng init ang aking katawan sa narinig kong tawag niya sa akin.  Naramdaman kong naningkit ang mga mata ko.  Umiwas siya sa aking tingin at “What was that you said Nate?” na para bang balewala ang sinabi ko sa kanya.  Kumuyom ang aking mga palad, ang isa ay hawak ang kanyang overnight bag.

“I was wondering until when is your Christmas break?  Are you coming back here for the New Year?” tanong ni Nathan.

“We’ll be back in school first week of January, and no, we don’t normally come over here during New Year celebrations.  We have a family tradition to spend New Year at our own home.”

Nanginginig ako sa galit.  Lumapit ako kay Cassie at hinawakan siya sa kaliwa niyang palapulsuhan at hinila siyang patayo. 

“I said get inside Cassie!  Do not make me ask you again.”

Tinitigan niya ako ng masama.  Nanliliit ang mga kaakit akit niyang mga mata habang nakatitig siya sa akin.

Kinuha niya ang overnight bag sa kamay ko at saka binitawan ang throw pillow na nakatakip sa mga hita niya kanina. 

Hindi niya tinatanggal ang kanyang tingin sa akin at nagsalita “Excuse me Nate.  I have to change but I’ll be back.  Would you like to wait for me?”

“Sure!” sagot naman ni Nate.

“She is not coming back Nate so f**k off!” galit kong sabi habang nakatitig din sa mga mata ni Cassandra.

Hinila ni Cassandra ang kaliwang kamay niya sa pagkakahawak ko.  Sa palagay ko ay nasaktan siya dahil nakita kong namumula iyon sa parteng mahigpit na pagkakahawak ko kanina.  Ngunit hindi niya ininda iyon at nagmamadaling pumasok sa loob. 

Hinarap ko sa Nate na nakatayo na din sa mga sandaling iyon.  Nakatingin siya sa papasok sa bahay na si Cassandra.

“You didn’t have to hurt her Brandon” banggit ni Nate.

“Mind your own damn business Nate and stay away from her!” galit kong sabi at sabay akmang susundan si Cassandra sa loob ng bahay.

“Why?  We’re not doing anything wrong.  We were just talking.”

“Talking?!  Can you honestly tell me that you are not smitten with her?” nanlilisik ang mga mata kong tanong sa kanya.

“What if I do like her?  I admit that I am attracted to her and would like to get to know her better” sagot ni Nate.

Hindi ko napigil ang sarili ko at inundayan ko siya ng suntok sa mukha sa narinig ko sa kanya.  Hindi ko nakayanan ang galit na umakyat sa aking ulo na naramdaman ko sa mga salitang binigkas niya. 

“Brandon, what the f..k?!” rinig kong sabi ni Blake at naramdaman ko ang pagyakap niya sa aking likod para pigilan ako sa muling pagsugod pa ulit kay Nate.

“You don’t own her Brandon.  She is young and she should be free to live more and later on, choose whomever she wants.  You mustn’t force her to do anything” aniya ni Nate na lalong nagpaliyab sa galit ko.

“Nate, stop it.  Get inside Bro.  I’ll take it from here” sabi ni Blake habang yakap yakap ako sa likod.

Galit na galit ako ng mga sandaling iyon.  Ang nasa isip ko lang ay mailayo si Cassie kay Nate at paulit ulit na pumapasok sa pag-iisip ko na akin lang si Cassie.  Akin lang siya.

Pumasok na si Nathan at nang akmang susunod ako para hanapin si Cassie ay tinulak ako ni Blake para umupo sa settee.  “Calm down and get a hold of yourself Brandon.  Do you want to scare Cassie when she sees you like this?  You’re acting crazy man!” sabay hagod niya sa buhok niya ng kanan niyang kamay.

Napaupo ako at hinawakan ang ulo ko ng dalawa kong kamay, ang mga braso ko ay nakasuporta sa ibabaw ng aking mga tuhod.  “I don’t know what happened.  I saw the two of them talking and I didn’t like it.  I hated it.  I don’t like to see her talking to other boys.  I don’t like to see her talking to anyone for that matter.  She’s driving me crazy Blake!”

“Cassie is not driving you to the wall Brandon, you are!  You need to calm down and control yourself.  I know and can feel for years that you don’t see Cassie as a sister.  I can see the way you looked at her, like she’s your property or something.  That is not healthy Bro.  She’s young.  You are older and supposed to be the mature one.   You have to let her grow up normally and make your move at the right time.”

“When?!  We are leaving Blake and the thought of leaving her here is making me insane!  I have already made my move and she loves me Blake.  She loves me!  I will talk to Dad and Mom and will ask that I stay here.  I can’t leave her Blake.  Just thinking about it is killing me” sabay sabunot ko sa aking buhok. 

Umupo sa tabi ko si Blake at inakbayan ako sa balikat.  “I think time away from her might do you good Bro.  What you feel for her is not healthy for you and might scare her away.  Heck, I get scared for her when I see how you look at her.  Let her grow up Bro.  Let her mature... enough to handle the intensity of your feelings for her.  You wouldn’t want her to run from you right?”

“I can’t think of anything else Blake.  She’s always on my mind.  Do you know that I go to her school 2 or 3 times a week just to get a glimpse of her?  I have to see her often even from afar just for me to calm down.  She is my calmness Blake.  When I see her, everything makes sense.  When I don’t…”  itinaas ko ang mukha ko at alam kong nakikita ni Blake ang desperasyon sa aking mga mata.

“What do you plan to do?  I don’t think Dad and Mom would let you stay here, more so when they find out your reason.  I know Cassie is not a blood-relative but it might be awkward between Dad and Tito Raymond when they find out.  Not to mention that Cassie is barely sixteen and still in high school.

“I have to tell them.  With the way I am feeling for her, I won’t survive being away from her that far and that long.  I want to have an open relationship with her where I can tell everyone that she’s mine.  I want to see her and be with her all the time Blake.  I don’t like this feeling but I have lived with it for years and it's not going away.  It just keeps growing.  Just earlier, Cassie has admitted she felt the same way and I will hold her to that.  She can’t take it back and I won’t let her.”

“Bro, you must consider the possibility that what she might feel for you is vastly different from what you feel for her.  She’s not even sixteen and as far as I am aware, have not had a boyfriend as of yet.  There’s a huge possibility that what she feels for you now is just infatuation you know.”

“I don’t care.  She said she loves me and I will hold her to that.  She can’t take it back” mariin kong sabi kay Blake. 

Natahimik kaming dalawa.  Nang patayo na sana kami, nakita naming lumabas sa sliding glass door si Dad at naglakad patungo sa amin ni Blake.

He was looking serious and stared at both of us.  Namataan niya ang namumula kong kanang kamay na ginamit ko sa pagsuntok kay Nate.

“Blake, can you leave us please?  I’d like to talk to Brandon alone” sabi ni Dad.

Tumayo si Blake at tinignan ako bago lumayo at pumasok sa loob.

“I saw Nate with a bloodied lip.  What happened son?”

Nakakuyom ang mga kamay ko sa gitna ng mga nakabukang hita ko.  Ang braso ko ang nakasuporta pa din sa mga tuhod ko.

Lumunok ako bago sabing “Away binata lang Dad.  Nagkapikunan lang.”

“Hindi ka palaaway anak. Tell me what’s wrong so I can help you.”

Nakatingin lang sa akin ang maamong mga mata ni Dad na punong puno ng pag-aalala at pagmamahal.

“May ideya ako.  I want you to be honest with me okay?”  Tumango naman ako.

“May kinalaman ba dito si Cassie?” tanong ng aking ama.

Kinabahan ako at napatingin sa kanya na may gulat ang mga mata.  Nakita ko naman sa kanya ang pang-unawa ng hindi niya inaalis ang kanyang mga tingin sa akin.  Tumango ako.

“Noon pa man, nakikita kong hindi kapatid ang tingin at pagtrato mo kay Cassie.  Hindi naman namin binigyan ng pansin masyado dahil mga bata pa kayo at baka naman mali ang aking iniisip sa mga nakikita kong pagkilos mo.  But as the years went by, I saw the way that you looked at her.  The intensity is over-whelming.  That made me worried because I see ownership when you stare at her lately.  And that is not good my son.”

“What do I do Dad?  I don’t want to feel this way too but I can’t help it.  I feel like I have lived with this feeling all my life.  From my first memory of her, I wanted to have her.  It scares me too.  Earlier, when I saw her with Nate, I felt such anger that I wanted to hurt someone.  And I did!  I didn’t want to but I did, Dad.”

“That is something that you need to take care of Anak.  You wouldn’t want to hurt Cassie right?”

“No!  Of course not Dad!” sigaw ko na may hilakbot sa aking mukha sa pag-iisip ng posibilidad na baka masaktan ko si Cassie.

“Then here’s my suggestion if you can please consider.  See a Psychiatrist.  You need to learn how to control your emotions around her Anak.  You also need to learn how to live outside her sphere.  You should not revolve your world around her.  You have a life.  You have school, you have friends and various hobbies.  Don’t think I haven’t noticed the days you go home late and I can imagine where you came from.  I’ve been there Brandon.  But the way you feel for Cassie is something else.  It’s too intense.  I think our trip will be good for both of you.”

Umiiling ako ng binanggit ni Dad ang pagpunta naming sa Amerika.  “About that Dad…”

Umiling din si Dad at hindi ako pinatapos “That is non-negotiable Brandon.  You are coming with us.  It will be good for you and Cassie.  Let her grow and mature to be able to handle your feelings for her.  I want you to see a Psychiatrist so the doctor can help you handle this time away from her because I know it will be very difficult for you.  But believe me Brandon, it may not look like it right now, but us leaving will be a good thing for you and Cassie.”